Round 2 actually went better for me than the first round with the exception of energy level. Right before the start of round 2 I felt much better. I really experienced much more exhaustion this last round and when I did push myself a bit harder I paid for it the following days. There you have it, my excuse for not updating my blog for so long. I kept waiting to feel better.
Today I went in to the infusion room and also had a visit with the oncologist. I now have the pump attached for the next 48 hours delivering the second chemo. This, I think, is the hardest part. I did learn in round 2 how to better deal with the nausea and sleeplessness so maybe round 3 will go smoothly with just a few more naps.
Overall the good news is that my blood counts have not dipped to worrisome levels, although they are watching the hemoglobin and white blood cell counts very careful. I met with the oncologist today; his biggest concern is the neuropathy. I learned that I am on a very high dose of the oxcilplatium and if the nueropathy continues to get worse he will cut back the dosage to prevent long term damage, which was one of the concerns of the tumor board.
Outside my medical issues, we had a successful birthday weekend for Cynthia. My strategy was to do as little as possible, and for those of you who know me... Anyway, it started with inviting her Aunt Lynn from Indianapolis to join us for the week. She has been great, like that older sister Cynthia never had. On Saturday night we rented an electric boat and 3 other couples joined us who provided the food and drinks, again "as little as possible." On Sunday we drove up to see Aaron and had a great visit. Cynthia has really missed him and they connected as he told her about college life and he really wanted to share with her, it was a precious life moment. It was very tiring for me, but well worth the effort and a great birthday present.
The next 3-4 days are really the roughest on me and I do not like to write when I feel bad, so I will try to update the blog later in the weekend.
I generally go to bed at 9:30 and sleep until 12:30 and wake for some reason. I get up and take a sleeping pill which takes 30 minutes to kick in. In that 30 minutes my thoughts run wild. Although I always thought I will beat this cancer, I still always question the treatment course I selected, the doctors etc. What I always try to come back to is how fortunate I have been. I feel the doctors I have treated me more like their little brother who they would do anything to save rather than just another patient. The continuous support, encouragement and prayers I receive from everyone again make me realize how blessed I am. And of course the care giving from Cynthia and the appreciation I have for my boys have helped my focus on what really matters in life. I do not agree with Lance Armstrong where he says we are "the lucky ones" because I would not wish this on anyone but there is a certain focus and realization that has come to me from this experience.
It has been suggested to me and I have thought about writing a book, but I am afraid I would have to dedicate half of the book just to thanking everyone and pointing out how what I took for granted turned out to be so important. The other problem of me writing a book would be to find a great editor to correct my grammar and writing style.
Bruce
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
September 16, another round
It is funny how that expression "another round" currently has a totally different meaning in my life .
I walked into the chemo room to find the coveted TV control chair open. I expressed my reluctance to sit there since I was scolded last time for watching Fox News. One woman said she could not understand that, which was immediately followed by another gentleman's agreement with the original scolding. I took another chair.
I had a great weekend. Cynthia and I actually went out on a date for dinner on Saturday night and we had our family dinner Sunday evening. I started feeling better about mid week and I was able to go into the office a couple of days, wash the dogs, and even start working out (very lightly) again.
If this is how it is going to go with the weeks on/off I think it will be manageable. Unfortunately, today I am back to the infusion and pump, also my white blood cell count dropped below normal. Nothing to panic yet, but still something to watch.
I was able to read all my work e mails during the chemo session today even though I could not sent. I was thinking it was like a 5 hour Southwest Airline flight. Not really comfortable, just able to read, and you know you are going to feel bad after the flight, so really it was like being back to my old travel schedule, except the restrooms are bigger and no free peanuts.
I don't know what is so tiring about sitting in a chair for 5 hours but I am a little worn out, so I will sing off and write again when on my off week when I am feeling better.
Again, I want to thank everyone for their prayers, thoughts, good wishes and help. I now get my chairs carried for the soccer games. However, I currently have more than enough offers for taking weight from someone else. Science just has not caught up with those wanting to help in that way.
Bruce
I walked into the chemo room to find the coveted TV control chair open. I expressed my reluctance to sit there since I was scolded last time for watching Fox News. One woman said she could not understand that, which was immediately followed by another gentleman's agreement with the original scolding. I took another chair.
I had a great weekend. Cynthia and I actually went out on a date for dinner on Saturday night and we had our family dinner Sunday evening. I started feeling better about mid week and I was able to go into the office a couple of days, wash the dogs, and even start working out (very lightly) again.
If this is how it is going to go with the weeks on/off I think it will be manageable. Unfortunately, today I am back to the infusion and pump, also my white blood cell count dropped below normal. Nothing to panic yet, but still something to watch.
I was able to read all my work e mails during the chemo session today even though I could not sent. I was thinking it was like a 5 hour Southwest Airline flight. Not really comfortable, just able to read, and you know you are going to feel bad after the flight, so really it was like being back to my old travel schedule, except the restrooms are bigger and no free peanuts.
I don't know what is so tiring about sitting in a chair for 5 hours but I am a little worn out, so I will sing off and write again when on my off week when I am feeling better.
Again, I want to thank everyone for their prayers, thoughts, good wishes and help. I now get my chairs carried for the soccer games. However, I currently have more than enough offers for taking weight from someone else. Science just has not caught up with those wanting to help in that way.
Bruce
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
September 10
I finally started feeling better. It took the better part of the week but today I actually felt better. I go to get my blood work done tomorrow and I am really looking forward to those results to see if there is any other reason for my exhaustion besides the obvious.
I am hoping it is a combination of still recovering from the surgery, port and the first round of chemo. I lost a few more pounds this week but I think I have stabilized. I also know that is probably contributing to the fatigue but I am eating well.
I am hoping for a good weekend of recovery and then tackling the next round. I have a feeling next week will be a tough one again. I will try to update the blog a little quicker.
Bruce
I am hoping it is a combination of still recovering from the surgery, port and the first round of chemo. I lost a few more pounds this week but I think I have stabilized. I also know that is probably contributing to the fatigue but I am eating well.
I am hoping for a good weekend of recovery and then tackling the next round. I have a feeling next week will be a tough one again. I will try to update the blog a little quicker.
Bruce
Friday, September 5, 2008
September 5, back in the chemo room
I went back to the infusion room on Tuesday. Having the port was much better, although it was still very tender.
I felt like a veteran; unfortunately, I was not really prepared for the higher dosages they are giving me and for the second half of the treatment when they sent me home with the pump. It was my new best friend attached to my hip pumping every minute more chemo into me. I did not sleep well either night but it did help when I wrapped the pump in a towel and put it in a drawer.
The pump was removed on Thursday and they gave me some iv nausea medicine, which helped. I am just pretty wiped out. The mornings are better for me, I try to work for a few hours and then I need to lay down. In the afternoon I really do not have the energy to do much except read or watch TV. Not really my usual self.
I now have a week off to recover. I will have a blood test on Thursday and if the counts are ok, I start all over the following Tuesday. It feels like a long road but one down 7 to go.
Hopefully, I will feel better over this next week and I will try to post a more upbeat blog.
Bruce
I felt like a veteran; unfortunately, I was not really prepared for the higher dosages they are giving me and for the second half of the treatment when they sent me home with the pump. It was my new best friend attached to my hip pumping every minute more chemo into me. I did not sleep well either night but it did help when I wrapped the pump in a towel and put it in a drawer.
The pump was removed on Thursday and they gave me some iv nausea medicine, which helped. I am just pretty wiped out. The mornings are better for me, I try to work for a few hours and then I need to lay down. In the afternoon I really do not have the energy to do much except read or watch TV. Not really my usual self.
I now have a week off to recover. I will have a blood test on Thursday and if the counts are ok, I start all over the following Tuesday. It feels like a long road but one down 7 to go.
Hopefully, I will feel better over this next week and I will try to post a more upbeat blog.
Bruce
Monday, September 1, 2008
September 1
What a week. On Monday I met with my Radiologist who was very pleased with my recovery. On Wednesday we met with my surgeon who was also pleased with my recovery and gave me the go ahead to get my port and start the next round of chemo.
Thursday we went to Claremont to officially drop Aaron off at college. It was a full day of orientation and unpacking... It was also a very emotional day for me. I gave him my final list of life lessons and told him we have a family tradition of calling home on Sundays to check in. More on that later.
Friday, I went in to have my port put in. In case anyone ever asks, I hate needles. And after they missed with the first IV try I was glued to the ceiling. Fortunately, the vascular surgeon was great and had a zanex close by. The procedure was a little rougher that I anticipated and as the Novocaine wore off I was glad we still had a couple of vicodins from the last surgery.
I recovered enough to be able to watch Jason's soccer tournament over the weekend, and I actually got called back into the coaching when we made it to the championship game Sunday afternoon and the trainer/coach had to go to a wedding.
Sunday evening we had planned to spend relaxing with friends from out of town (also dropping off children to college) over a casual barbecue. The evening was great until we got the Sunday night check in call from Aaron. Apparently on my life lessons sheet I typed up for him I did not put down that your first call home from college should not be from the local hospital emergency room. The short story was 6 stitches above the eye from a collision in ultimate frisbee, he is having a great time, and he is going to figure out his course schedule today when he registers. I can hear the apple far from the tree comments already.
As for me, I start chemo tomorrow. I will have 8 treatments every other week, so my plan is to be done with chemo December 9th. The surgeon said we would have time to do the second surgery prior to Christmas; that is now my goal. I would really like to start the new year off with just recovery on my mind, but I have been told not to count on any schedule since a cold, flu, dehydration or drop in white blood cells could delay everything.
I did make my goal of taking Aaron to college, fortunately or unfortunately, I was still recovering from the surgery so I could not lift anything over 5lbs. So now there is another group in this world who wonder what exactly I do and why I had Cynthia doing all the work.
This should be an interesting next few months in the chemo room with the election, I will keep posting on how the treatments are going and how I am feeling.
Thanks again for all the prayers, thoughts and help.
Bruce
Thursday we went to Claremont to officially drop Aaron off at college. It was a full day of orientation and unpacking... It was also a very emotional day for me. I gave him my final list of life lessons and told him we have a family tradition of calling home on Sundays to check in. More on that later.
Friday, I went in to have my port put in. In case anyone ever asks, I hate needles. And after they missed with the first IV try I was glued to the ceiling. Fortunately, the vascular surgeon was great and had a zanex close by. The procedure was a little rougher that I anticipated and as the Novocaine wore off I was glad we still had a couple of vicodins from the last surgery.
I recovered enough to be able to watch Jason's soccer tournament over the weekend, and I actually got called back into the coaching when we made it to the championship game Sunday afternoon and the trainer/coach had to go to a wedding.
Sunday evening we had planned to spend relaxing with friends from out of town (also dropping off children to college) over a casual barbecue. The evening was great until we got the Sunday night check in call from Aaron. Apparently on my life lessons sheet I typed up for him I did not put down that your first call home from college should not be from the local hospital emergency room. The short story was 6 stitches above the eye from a collision in ultimate frisbee, he is having a great time, and he is going to figure out his course schedule today when he registers. I can hear the apple far from the tree comments already.
As for me, I start chemo tomorrow. I will have 8 treatments every other week, so my plan is to be done with chemo December 9th. The surgeon said we would have time to do the second surgery prior to Christmas; that is now my goal. I would really like to start the new year off with just recovery on my mind, but I have been told not to count on any schedule since a cold, flu, dehydration or drop in white blood cells could delay everything.
I did make my goal of taking Aaron to college, fortunately or unfortunately, I was still recovering from the surgery so I could not lift anything over 5lbs. So now there is another group in this world who wonder what exactly I do and why I had Cynthia doing all the work.
This should be an interesting next few months in the chemo room with the election, I will keep posting on how the treatments are going and how I am feeling.
Thanks again for all the prayers, thoughts and help.
Bruce
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
